Stay Strong

Some cancer patients may be at a higher risk for illness, but they (and the rest of us) can take steps to boost immunity.

BY SARAH ELIZABETH RICHARDS

FLU AND PNEUMONIA are miserable on their own, but when you have cancer, they can become dangerous. Your immune system may already be compromised due to the type of cancer you’re dealing with, and your treatment can weaken it even further. Chemotherapy, for instance, can decrease the number of protective white blood cells and T-cells and increase susceptibility to infections; radiation, too, leads to a decrease in cells that boost immunity. This helps explain why cancer patients who get the flu or pneumonia are more likely to develop potentially fatal complications. Because we’re still learning about the effects of Covid-19, this virus brings the risk to a new level. It appears that cancer patients are more likely to suffer a severe case of the illness, be admitted to an ICU, be…

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O, The Oprah (Digital) - 1 Issue, October 2020

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